By Yusoff Omar
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, SEPT 27 – A total of 20 climbers from Gleneagles Jerudong Park Medical Center (JPMC) took up the challenge of climbing Mount Kinabalu recently in conjunction with the celebration of World Heart Day.
According to the media statement, as the only tertiary heart center in Brunei, the climb is part of the hospital’s ongoing efforts to promote heart health and encourage an active lifestyle among the community.
A team made up of healthcare professionals and fitness enthusiasts, the team embarked on the climb to bring the message of the importance of cardiovascular health and to raise awareness of heart disease prevention.
The expedition supports the theme of this year’s World Heart Day which is Use the Heart to Actempowering individuals to take cardiovascular health seriously and also encouraging people to pay attention to their health.
The climb up the mountain in adverse weather conditions is a testament to the team’s commitment and support to the cause and shows that maintaining a healthy heart is about pushing personal boundaries and accepting physical challenges among many obstacles, individually and as a team.
However, due to worsening weather conditions, the expedition had to be stopped before reaching the top on the advice of the responsible officer. However, the success of reaching the final pit stop, Panalaban safely is an achievement to be proud of.
Commenting on the team’s success, Gleneagles JPMC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Peter Tay emphasized, “We are proud of the team for taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Kinabalu for a good cause. We are committed to supporting a healthy work-life balance for our staff, and initiatives like this help them stay connected to each other and improve their mental well-being. This expedition is a great example of how staying active benefits individuals and teams, in keeping with the spirit of World Heart Day.”
Chief Operating Officer of Gleneagles JPMC, ‘Izzul Hamzi bin Haji Jomari shared his experience, “We expected this climb to be challenging but not at the level we experienced, especially with the bad weather. Months of training have made the team well prepared to tackle this challenge collectively. We are grateful to Gleneagles JPMC for the opportunity to be part of this expedition and together as a group to overcome many obstacles during the two days of climbing. We hope this experience will inspire others to take care of their fitness, so they can live stronger and healthier lives.”
“It was a difficult expedition, especially with the bad weather, but enjoying the moment with my colleagues was worth it! I am grateful to have marked this achievement with Gleneagles JPMC,” said Assistant Nurse Manager, Roslinda Binti Bachok proudly.
World Heart Day is celebrated every year on September 29, as a global campaign to educate and motivate individuals to take care of their heart health. Gleneagles JPMC continues to support cardiovascular health as a Center of Excellence through various initiatives, such as heart screening, education programs and community engagement activities; including the World Heart Day Brunei Run 2024 which will take place on October 6 at Taman Haji Sir Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.
